Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-11-29
JAPANESE EXECUTIONS.
The Wonderful Skill of the Headsmcn En-
pIoyed In Oriental Countries.

The wonderful Skill of the Headsmcn EN-
pioyed In Oriental Countries.
As each man stepped from tho path
on to tho plateau his eyes wore firmly
bandagcd with white paper. tho only
act of mercy saw youchsafod that
morning. Finally they were ranged
in line, the two criprles huddlcd on
the ground. thor poor heads ms they
dropped from shoulder to shoulder be-
Ing roag ly buffatcd to proper angle
by tho p, ccmcn in charge. This nc
complished amid silence so absolute
that we could almost hear our hearts
beat tho great man on the camp-st oil
roso and, unfolding large document.
read in loud voice what we supposed
to be description of the crimes for
which tho poor fellows were to suffer
and tho process of condemnation and
sentence. This was very long bus!-
ness. and before it was noarly finished
the native spectators were laughing anu
joking np0n tho Appearance OF the
doomed mon. with Tint calloulncss TO
human suffering which so much black
ems the otherwise nmiabo and pleasing
charac CT of the Japanese people. Al
last it was iinishcd. A there wcro bn'
live holes for scvoa prisoners. two
woull be obliged to remain In blind
agony whlle their omptnions wcrc
being dispatched. Five mca woro AZ.
cor lingly thrust forward with tn,
slaves and lists OF tho police; each man
was made TO squat on mound. his
clothes If filthy, taltercd rags could
be callod clothes -s:ripncd from his
should rs. his hands tied behind his
back. and his head INlshe.l forward
over the hole. Oar seoling, Mt thi,
awful moment can better be imagined
han described. but | think VIC fit
qnc "a mrch pity for tho two poor
wretchcs left alone to listen to what
was gong on without that ar ilcial aid
to furiitudc which tho sight of crowd
sometimes gives, rs for their COM
panions on their death seats. Uidoubt-
ed Y execution by tho trcnchant Japa-
ncse sword Is rs mcrc.ful death rs
can be desired; but tho Oriental ma
turc. rs If 10 compensate for this
crring on tho side of mercy, counter
balances IL by an undue prolongalion
Of tho preparations for death. which is
worse than hundred deaths So in
his ease. AS the poor fellows knelt
over their 'olcs tho cxecutioner Slow
IL and deliberately took OFF his coat
and barred his arms. Then ho took
from is silk easing III, f,tal sword.
examined it f,ndly aud lingcringly
from the tho lasari me. or filings on
the hllt TO cp tho grasp from slip
ping along the K.rimon. or groove in
the blade, to tho oint. hold it over q
pail while coolio trickIcd water
down II. and with great deal of SO
ling of his feet was r1ady. ! felt sick
and giddy, but kept my eyes iixp,l
on tho scene. AT n sign from tho Of
fetal on the camps oil. III, OK l.
toner raised his sword slightly. harl.
Is half dozen inches, AL almost be.
fore could realize it tho mans head
was hanging over tn, hole by n 81 glu
ligamont, AMI tho b.ool was .u'hino
forth in torrents. til N saw why III, cx-
rcuioncr had not completely severe,
the heal; and the woidcrf Il skill %
the japanese swordsmon, using rs they
ao tbs most perfect weapons in Tho
world. can be imaein"d in 50 arrang
ing tho force If tho Llow that absolut,
dccapitation does no. lako place. II
tore the heal oil aud held it towar,
the four sidos of the squart; then h,
gave it TO iolie, who roughly
plasterc,l tho severed portion with ella,
and stuck it OF hi I'd of eleva ct
shof In tho meantime two cooio
were humping on tho back of Tho
PROSTATE body 10 hasten the rush o
b'ool. after which one of tho coars
mats was thrown over it and it was lai,
aside. ha seen enough. and l turne,
my head away ~ tho cxecuioner. nfte
wiping his blade with paper, M
preached tho second poor wr1tch. VIII,
WIS shouting out something mt the to-
Of his voice, whether confcssiol or
tcnunciation of injustice l was no
scholar enough to und rs;anl - Gentle
man Magazine